eThekwini Municipality addresses Vusi Thembekwayo's concerns over Durban's city centre
An earlier view of the Durban city centre including the City Hall building.
Image: . File Picture: eThekwini Municipality Facebook page.
South African entrepreneur and writer has taken the eThekwini Municipality to task over the condition of the Durban city centre. Vusi Thembekwayo described the condition of the CBD as "poor and not reflective of the city’s economic potential." Thembekwayo, who is a prominent investor and international public speaker, expressed his concerns in a video he posted on his social media platforms.
In response, the city pushed back against the criticism yesterday, detailing the work that has been done to improve the state of the city centre. The video went viral, receiving over 26,000 likes and being shared more than a thousand times. In the video, Thembekwayo stated, “You know that Durban has an economic output higher than some countries in Africa. There is actually no reason why Durban should be in the state it is in. It is the most extraordinary thing to me.
“Put it this way: you have goods coming in (through the port) from the east, going to the west. They go through Durban as a port; Durban is a mega port. I don’t understand why it looks the way it does; it makes no sense to me.
“I am often confused by people who fail to understand the importance of the city centre. The reason you build a city centre is for the rest of the city, and you want the rest of the city to reflect the state or the province.”
He said he looks at Durban and wonders what is going on, questioning who did not get the memo that having a city centre that looks nice advertises the rest of the city. Dankiza Williams from Durban Central Tourism said the situation has improved in the city, with tourists returning, hotels being booked, and the beach being full. He suggested that Thembekwayo must visit the city again so they could take him around.
Democratic Liberal Congress (DLC) Leader Patrick Pillay remarked that the CBD is in urgent need of regeneration. He noted that the Durban CBD is in a state of serious decline.
“Once a vibrant commercial hub, it now suffers from neglect, poor maintenance, and deteriorating infrastructure. Streets are plagued by litter, informal trading is largely unregulated, and safety concerns deter both businesses and visitors. Some buildings are run down, unoccupied, with little sign of investment or renewal. The lack of effective municipal management has led to a loss of confidence in the area.
“In order to attract tourism and investment, the city requires urgent intervention, revitalisation efforts, and visible policing for the safety and security of citizens and tourists. If these are not done immediately and effectively, Durban’s CBD risks becoming an urban wasteland, undermining economic growth and the city’s overall appeal as a commercial destination,” Pillay said.
The eThekwini Municipality said in a statement that it has made great strides in revitalising Durban’s inner city, mentioning the work done to address homelessness and undertaking significant investment projects. “Inner city regeneration is pivotal to unlocking inclusive economic growth and fostering job creation in eThekwini. Revitalising the urban core through upgraded infrastructure, safer public spaces, and mixed-use developments can attract investment, stimulate entrepreneurship, and draw more residents and visitors to the city.
“Regular enforcement is carried out in the inner city, with more than 8,000 charges in the last financial year. Since the commencement of the programme, 375 integrated enforcement operations have been carried out, with at least 90 food stores being shut down due to serious non-compliance. Around 1,500 joint clean-up operations were conducted, with more than 2,050 tons of waste removed,” it stated. It added that a dedicated task team has been set up to address hijacked buildings, with legal escalations planned via civil and criminal courts.
The Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) project, the statement continued, has been expanded to include inner city areas beyond existing special rating area zones.
A dedicated multi-disciplinary management team has been appointed, with responsibilities for cleaning, maintenance coordination, and crime deterrence. Ambassadors can be seen in the inner city in bright yellow attire.
“A total of 15 catalytic investment development projects, worth billions of rand, such as the Bay Waterfront, Government Mall, and Rivertown, have been packaged for bankability. These will bring investment, economic development opportunities, job creation, and improved confidence in the city.
“The city has seen a steady decline in dilapidated buildings from 120 to 73 since the inception of the Problem Buildings Division in 2019. Eleven buildings have been refurbished by owners, six demolitions have been undertaken, and sixteen buildings have undergone repairs over the last two years,” it concluded.